Device for closing and opening zippers



H. J. MORGEN 3,354,520

Nov. 28, 1967 DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND OPENING ZIPPERS Filed Oct. 21, 1965EN TOR.

f/ermah Wage/2 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 ABSTRAUT UP THE DISCLOSURE Azipper opening and closing device in which a hook and an abutment arejuxtaposed so that the zipper operator may be either raised or lowered,and having a fin by which extraneous cloth or other material is kept outof the path of the zipper.

My invention relates to a device for closing and opening zippers.

An object of my invention is to provide a very simple device and whichcan be made in a very simple form, which Will allow a woman to close azipper at the rear portions of her dress, and also to open the zipper.

A further object of my invention is to provide an easily attachedarrangement.

A further object is to provide an arrangement which will prevent lockingof the zipper at certain stages of the operation thereof.

A further object is to provide an arrangement which will prevententanglement with underlying fabrics etc.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a forward view of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail showing the device used for closing thezipper,

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the device when used to open the zipper, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the lines 55 ofFIGURE 2.

I have used the character 11) to designate a flat strip of material,preferably plastic, it being understood, however, that any other type ofmaterial can be employed, the strip extending into the integral enlargedwidened fiat portion 11, this portion being curved as at 11a.

Attached as at 12 fairly close to the lower end 13 of the strip 10 is ahook 14 including the outwardly extending portion 15. The character 15bindicates a curved rib extending integrally from the member 10.

The device is used in the following manner. First, assuming that thezipper is to be closed, or in other words, assuming that the zipper tab16 is to be pulled upwardly, which tab is provided on all zipperconstructions, the hook portion 15 is placed through the opening 17 inthe tab 16, and the woman will grasp the portion 11 and will then pullupwardly, whereby the zipper will pass upwardly and close the dress atthe rear. As shown in FIGURE 4, at the start of pull, 15b and member 10will move toward the body and member 19 will move outwardly from thebody whereby the member 15b will hold the under garment away from thezipper 20.

Conversely, to open the zipper, the unit will remain in the sameposition as shown in FIGURE 4, and the enlarged portion 11 is maintainedat a position which is parallel to the plane of the body, which insuresthat the face 13 will abut against the tab 16, whereupon downwardpressure in the direction of the arrow 18 will cause the zipper totravel downwardly and open the dress at the rear. The maintenance of theportion 11 in the horizontal plane above described will insure that theabutment effect against the tab 16 is maintained throughout the movementof the device to thereby insure proper opening, and which also insuresthat the tab 16 will be kept in unlocked position, the character 19indicating the usual zipper attachments which are unlocked when the tab16 is in horizontal position, the character 21) indicating furtherzipper portions.

It will thus be noted that the device will function properly to open andclose the zipper, the insertion of the hook within the opening 17 beingrelatively easy in either position. The length of the unit is sulficientso that the operator can conveniently operate the device even though itis positioned at the rear.

The member 15b separates the zipper parts from any underlying clothing,to prevent jamming of the Zipper etc. with said fabrics, this memberbeing directly over the zipper 20.

It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in theobjects of my invention with further advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim anymodified forms of structure of use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

For use in opening or closing a zipper, said zipper having a tab for itsoperation, a device comprising an elongated rigid strip formed toprovide a handle at one end and a flat abutment surface at the terminalend opposite said handle and substantially normal to the longitudinalaxis of said strip, a hook having a shank extending along one side ofsaid strip, a curved hook portion extending from said shank slightlybeyond said fiat abutment surface and having its end spaced from saidshank for receiving said tab, the inner surface of said curved hookportion being substantially in line with said abutment surface so thatsaid tab may be supported by said surfaces normal to the longitudinalaxis of said strip, and convex means on the side of said handle oppositeto the hook shank for clearing obstructions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,763 8/1892 Johnson 294-26 X674,190 5/1901 Zeiler 29426 X 2,571,943 10/1951 Ray 294-26 2,656,57910/1953 Wilson 2941 2,663,588 12/1953 ScheldOrfer. 3,145,041 8/1964Grolig.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

